Normal alignment interval
Thread Starter
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 523
Likes: 10
From: AZ
Normal alignment interval
How far do you guys usually go before getting the car re-aligned? I got mine re-aligned and balanced about 500 miles ago, and its already back to pulling right so hard i have to tilt the wheel 5-10 degrees while going completely straight, along with a vibration in the steering wheel . The roads i drive on are not perfect but also shouldn't be causing this, I have never hit a pothole and usually am pretty good about dodging the big bumps in the road. Is this normal or should I be looking for something wrong in the suspension that could cause it to move about in such a short period of time.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Last edited by nks979; Jan 12, 2017 at 01:07 PM.
Thread Starter
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 523
Likes: 10
From: AZ
Had them check it over to confirm there was nothing worn/broken in the suspension. The sheet they gave me showed everything in the correct range, and they did a very good job with my ATF so i doubt they messed up an alignment. I guess ill have it checked again for something wrong in the suspension, My car is lowered about half an inch in the front but I wouldn't think that would cause this issue.
i only get an alignment when/if i've hit something in the road that i can tell messed up my alignment, or if i curbed a wheel (happened twice in the 6 years of ownership), or when i've gotten new tires. other than that, no need. car drives straight.
Thread Starter
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 523
Likes: 10
From: AZ
Well ****, I guess somethings wrong with my car then. Any ideas on what could be throwing it out so quickly? When I took it in last time I had them reset the PS ecu, 4 wheel balance, alignment, and full inspection of the suspension, I would hate to get it back without an answer and have it go out again.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 580
Likes: 28
From: BC
I'm the same way with all my cars. I don't even get an alignment with new tires. Unless it's pulling or tires are wearing unevenly, I don't touch it.
Driver
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 143
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles, CA
I've been having similar issues and I am on Swift Springs / USRS... my car is favoring right. I've had 3 alignments in the past year and my spec sheet all check out pretty normal for a lowered car. I've been getting different answers. Any suspension gurus, please chime in!
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How far do you guys usually go before getting the car re-aligned? I got mine re-aligned and balanced about 500 miles ago, and its already back to pulling right so hard i have to tilt the wheel 5-10 degrees while going completely straight, along with a vibration in the steering wheel . The roads i drive on are not perfect but also shouldn't be causing this, I have never hit a pothole and usually am pretty good about dodging the big bumps in the road. Is this normal or should I be looking for something wrong in the suspension that could cause it to move about in such a short period of time.
Thanks.
Thanks.
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Pole Position
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 272
Likes: 8
From: KS
In for answers. Mine is doing the exact same and I got new tires, alignment, etc about 500 miles ago. I didn't see you mention what size tires you had, but I don't know if that would have anything to do with it. I'm on the 245/275 combo
Thread Starter
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 523
Likes: 10
From: AZ
So I did some searching, found some threads where people needed to adjust the subframe alignment to fix the right drift in these cars, not sure if this would be the issue as it tracked fine for ~400 miles and this sounds like it would affect it at all times. Also found a thread where failing rear bushing caused a similar issue. Anyone with more knowledge on this care to chime in?
for the guys that are pulling/drifting, are the tire brands mismatched, from front to rear? OR could also be radial pull, which could happen with any tire brand, even if all 4 tires are the same brand/model. when i first bought my car i had potenzas all around. drove perfectly straight. then i had the fronts changed to hankooks bc i was being cheap. rears were still potenzas. would pull to the left no matter the alignment spec. then i finally replaced all 4 to potenzas and car drives super straight again.
the radial pull can be very extreme from the get go and the tire place should exchange them for you at no cost if you can prove it right after putting the tires on. only way to check is swapping the tires left to right and see if the pulling switches sides, too, to pinpoint which tire is pulling. or it can develop and be more noticeable over time as the tires start to wear. you'll just have to live w/ it till you change out your tires again.
the radial pull can be very extreme from the get go and the tire place should exchange them for you at no cost if you can prove it right after putting the tires on. only way to check is swapping the tires left to right and see if the pulling switches sides, too, to pinpoint which tire is pulling. or it can develop and be more noticeable over time as the tires start to wear. you'll just have to live w/ it till you change out your tires again.
nks979 - sounds like your shop did a poor job of balancing and alignment. Go to another shop and have them check it out. Also, there is a slight chance you have what is known as "radial pull". See here:
http://www.agcoauto.com/content/news/p2_articleid/181
The vibration you describe has nothing to do with alignment, but with balancing.
Lou
http://www.agcoauto.com/content/news/p2_articleid/181
The vibration you describe has nothing to do with alignment, but with balancing.
Lou
Thread Starter
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 523
Likes: 10
From: AZ
Ill try the radial pull issue (tires have about 7k miles on them), I can't be certain but i would bet the alignment wasn't screwed up, it was done by the same tech who did the ATF leveling in my car, and like I said it tracked perfectly for the first ~400 miles.
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